ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3120, 26 June 1917, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

"THIS HOUSK THAT JACK BUILT." Tlicro was another big attendance at (ho Opera Ifouso hist evening to witness the Williamson pantomime, "The House thai .lack Built." It is an excellent show, _]>urtiuularly in its scenery and its tableaux. The pantomime will be staged for the last time in Wellington to-night. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Above and before all these Japanese and (Jhincso vaudeville performers do knowhow to dress their acts, which is a painfully weak feature -with so many of our own people. This was demonstrated lust evening at His Majesty's Theatre, when the Togos, two gifted Japanese, made their initial bow here, and succccdcd in holding a large audience fascinated for Bome twenty minutes by their unfailing adroitness. The Oriontnl opulenco of their purple and gold kimonas was enough, to hypnotise the female section of the audience, who are alwAys attracted by bizarre beauty in clothes. But the Togos havo talent as well as togs. One—and tho chief performer—is a inggler end balaaicer, who plies sticks and fans and balls one upon tho other on his rock-like chin, and smacks his working fan smartly after each addition to tho fragilo structure. When it came "to roducing the one would almost think that there "were magnet 6 at work to counteract gravity faults. Otherwise, it is difficult to account for some of the tricks done. U. Togo is agreat fellow "with the sticks, and. says (per card) that ho is the only one who can juggle six •stacks, which ho* did. There tfere no arguments respecting his claim. The thrill of tho act is provided for tho Togo Trhose surname initial was not given. This,,is a youth with a soft insinuating smile, who, with tho assistance of a large Japanese nmbrrfla-, -walks from the stage to the family circle rail per a two-inch Manila cablc, gripping the rope between his big toe and first toe at every step. Then placing the lower foot sideways on tho rope—and still facing tho gallery—he slides gently to tho stage, whilst half the audience holds its breath in tense expectation of tragedy. Then smiling ever go sweetly the youth, silencing the orchestra with a gesture, said: "I would like any lady Tn the audience to get omny hack while T walk up the rope and slide down As the invitation was not accepted he of the child-like smile^ blindfolded himeelf, and the.ru hiding Iris' head in a hood, performed utc'fe-at again successfully, on this oension protecting* himself from possible mishap by a loop of rope, hung under tho rope, and shackled on to a -stout beltf worn round the waist. , The Tocos certainly made good.

Jfiss Violet Trevenyon. more notable fo,r the dainty elegance of her .frocks than anything else, made a mild hit. in a. new song. "On the Day on which Peace is Declared." "I'll pave £50 to the man ivho'll come np on t.he stage and—swallow that!" It was a round shot- about oisjl)' ,ineh?>jn diameter, and no one. lifted Hal's fifty. This performer is a clever mo-ninnl-ilir of tinselled clubs, tennis balls, and the round shot, doing some of the tricks originally introduced by Cinouevalli quit* n*Kitly. The Tuttvs and Artritoce and Bine are also on the bill, the latter half of which non=' c,tl (l of tlio rirnilm" revue, "The Flirtinc Widow." very brightly played by the Walter Johnson Company. ENGLISH PIERROTS. To-morrovv night will bring to a close the suocessful eea.son of the Parrots in the Concert Chamber. For six weeks this happy band of merry-makers has enjoyed, unusual popularity, and many amuee-Jnent-lovers will regret their departure. Brightness, originality, and novelty have •been the keynote of the entertainment throughout the season, and the success of the compasy has been well earned. , THE KING'S. David Powell '(Dick Frenean, the handsome profligate of "Gloria's Romance") is only one of the splendid cast in "The Price She Paid," the story by David Graham Phillips, in which Clara Kimball Young is being featured twice daily at the King's Theatro this week. Snitz Edwards, as the dwarfish, but vain and. terribly evil, multi-millionaire who "purchases'' his beautiful young wife, is a most convincing and realistic craftsman, and Alan Halo gives a fine portrayal of the young man about town, whose greedy eye lighte upon the lonely girl. The picture is a de lux production, and is expected to excel in point of attendance "The Common Law" figures. EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. " The fact that the Billie Burko serial is still running at Everybody's Theatre would alono serve to uceount for tne iuu attendances drawn week after week, but another reason is to be found in tho invariably high quality of the other pictures preseted. "The Last of the lugrams," starred on the present bill, is a powerful etory of events that happen in a little fishing village called Ingram's Cove. Jules Ingram, the last of the race, becomes a social outcast through drink, but he finds a companion in a girl who has been sacrificed to the puritanical spirit of the community. How tho two win out together is told in a succession of absorbing scenes.

EMPRESS THEATRE. "The Angel of Mercy" is the leading attraction of th© current bill at the Empress Theatre. Alice Brady is the heroine, and she appears to have found her part an exceptionally suitable one. The story, -which tells of the corruption of the Russian Court, keeps up the spectator's interest throughout by a series of totally unexpected developments. In the end, matters arrange themselves in satisfactory fashion, and one goes home afterwards feeling that one has seen a picture a degree aJ)ove the ordinary. The photography of the production is specially fine. J. *0. WILLIAMSON COMEDY CO. The J. C. Williamson Farce Comedy Company* headed by Robert Greig and Beatrice Hoiloway, is reported to be meeting with unprecedented success with the thrco-act comedy "Baby Mine." "Baby Mine" will bo staged in Wellington at the Grand Opera Bouse, on Saturday night. The story of "Baby Mine'', is simple. The trouble all starts over a lie. The chijd-wifc of a jealous man simply cannot tell the truth, and when she innocently lunches with her husband's best friend she launches into fiction and domestic upheavals, when the simple truth would obviato all troubles. Bha is found out, and her husband, tired of hearing her tell the "real truth," leaves in high dudgeon, never to return. It is at this point that the authoress takes the daring .step of opening her farce with a sad not*. The little Wife, attempting to vTito an appeal to her liusbfind lo return, breaks down. The situation is delicately tinged with sweet pathos, and suggests that the writer of the comedy had confidence in her powers when she commenced a farce with tears. Thorn comes from her .friends tlio brilliant, idea of borrowing a baby, and of testing flip axiom's power to bring the husband back. •- But. unfortunately, accidents occur, and by .the time the third act is on its way the family has reached triplets. But. "Baby Mine" does not go in , ail its fun from the growth of tho family. Miss Mayo reveals a remarkable knowledge of men. and "Baby Mine" deals with the greatest event. in any man's life from file woman's viewpoint, in a keen, satirical sense. The play! though it makes men laugh hugely, may also ruffle their dignity, but women arc so id to enjoy every line of it. .Mips Beatrice JTollowny will anpea.v as tho simple and child-like wife, Zoie. and Mr. Robert Oreig will be seen as the muddling Jimmy Jinks. The members of tho popular "Reven Keys to Baldnate" Com nan y will moke a welcome reappearance in a very powerful east. The box plans.for the season will'he opqn at the Bristol on Thursday morning. 1

FIVE SITpR.T PLATS. On Thursday and Friday notl. a novel entertainment will be given in the Concert. Chamber by Jtr. Culforil Bell, assisted by the .students of his School of Dramatic Art. The programme will consist of five short plays, of a ividely-vavied order. Much care lias boon taken in the rcliearsine of these plays, apd a very successful season is expsctcil. The proceeds are to go to tho Crippled Soldiers' Hostel Fund. Scats may be booked at tbc Bristol.